Richards Bay are through to the semifinals after winning a penalty shootout against Orlando Pirates in the first of the Carling Knockout Cup quarterfinals in the double-header at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
While it is only the start of November, Durban was already in a festive mood, with the World Cup-winning Springboks doing their trophy parade through the KwaZulu-Natal capital earlier in the day.
With their struggling form in the league, both teams went into this game low on confidence. Both sides had also lost their matches before this game to teams from Cape Town, with Bay losing at home last weekend to Cape Town City, while Pirates lost in the Mother City midweek to Cape Town Spurs.
It was a tentative start to the game, with Pirates looking to take hold of possession. Deon Hotto’s free-kick attempt in the fifth minute couldn’t get past the wall, while Boikanyo Komane and Abel Mabaso had chances at the other end a few minutes later but neither threatened Melusi Buthelezi’s goals.
Goal attempts were not coming regularly, though Monnapule Saleng saw his 26th-minute effort curling wide of goal. While Pirates were doing the pressing, and trying to unlock Bay’s defence, they were not finding the final man.
After some good build-up play by the Bucs, Saleng had a good chance in the 41st minute, but his shot from the left was well saved by Philasande Manqele.
Just before half-time, the woodwork came to the rescue for Richards Bay, as Hotto was denied following a goal-mouth scramble. Kermit Erasmus seemed livid too, as he felt he was denied a penalty for a foul in the build-up to the attempt.
The Bucs continued where they left off after the break, while Bay looked happy to try to hit on the counter, and they went close in the 52nd minute, but Nkosinathi Sibisi made a crucial clearance. Yanela Mbuthuma’s looping header a minute later never troubled Buthelezi.
Mbuthuma had another chance in the 63rd minute, but his header went straight to Buthelezi.
A swift counterattack from Pirates in the 70th minute saw Evidence Makgopa go close, but Sibusiso Mthethwa got a crucial touch to force it behind.
Extra time was looming as it looked like neither side would find a goal in regulation time, and while both teams freshened things up from the bench, the pace and intensity dropped in the final 20 minutes.
With seconds remaining Pirates were awarded a dangerous free-kick just outside the box. Hotto stepped up but it was deflected behind, and after the resulting-corner, the referee blew for the end of 90 minutes.
The extra 30 minutes kicked off and Karim Kimvuidi’s cross-come-shot was saved by Manqele in the 97th minute.
Sinethemba Mngomezulu fired in a powerful effort in the 104th minute but it was always going wide, and at the break in extra time, the goal drought continued.
Zakhele Lepasa’s free kick in the 113th minute was on target but Manqele was able to make the save.
Buthelezi comfortably saved a 117th-minute long-range shot, but it was to be the last chance, and after no goals after two hours of football, a penalty shootout was needed.
It would be Manqele, who is busy doing his matric, who would prove to be the hero as he saved Hotto’s penalty and it was enough for Tembo’s team to book their semi-spot.
